The weight of rejection feels different when you’ve carried the hopes of an entire city on your shoulders. Justin Fields knows this well. By age 25, he has already experienced the highs of being a first-round draft pick and the lows of constant scrutiny and currently, in Pittsburgh, the quarterback room holds more questions than answers for him. For anyone stepping into those shoes, rejection isn’t just an idea, it’s a reality. Here’s the thing: Things have gone a bit off track for the Steelers with their consistent playoff struggles. They ended the season with a five-game losing streak, including a damp playoff loss. The future of two key players, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, is up in the air.

The Steelers had acquired Fields from the Bears with a 2025 conditional sixth-round pick. If he played more than 51% of the snaps in the 2024 season, that would get bumped up to a fourth-round pick. He didn’t. And as things stand, his rookie contract will run out, meaning he enters the off-season as a free agent.

After finishing the season as a backup QB to Russell Wilson, Fields appears to have subtly addressed his feelings; Especially the topic of rejection. The entire act was put to motion when Steelers offensive lineman Spencer Anderson made an Instagram post with the caption, “If you live for their approval, you’ll die from their rejection #year2.”

Fields took to the comment section to respond, “Big facts.” He has been facing criticism as fans have been favoring Wilson over him, suggesting that his ‘delayed vision’ and ‘lack of feel’ are creating the errors. He had the opportunity to start the first six games of the season with Wilson injured. Despite going 4-2, his performances weren’t enough to keep him in his starting spot when Wilson returned.

But they did allow Fields to display his immense scope for growth. Irrespective of his concerns, he is more than just a backup QB for the Steelers, especially as the speculations are rife that Wilson may potentially reunite with Pete Carroll, the newly appointed HC of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Wilson had come in from free agency on a one-year “prove it” deal with the Steelers for the 2024 season. And, when he was signed, fans acknowledged it as a possible rejection of Fields’ potential as a starter. Fields has remained calm despite everything. But, with the rumors regarding Wilson and the Raiders, the narrative has changed again.

Top Comment by Nonobaddog

Unfortunately Fields has to unlearn all the bad stuff he picked up in Chicago due to poor coaching. Give him...more

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Rumors suggest a potential reunion between Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll!

The Raiders are undergoing a massive change with the recent appointment of Pete Carroll as its head coach. At 73, he agreed to sign a three-year contract, and it comes with a fourth-year team option. NFL insider Jeff Howe of The Athletic also mentioned that it possibly signifies a reunion between Carroll and Wilson.

This has a significant history, as they spent ten years together (2012-21) at the Seattle Seahawks. It was a productive combo, resulting in four NFC West titles, along with two NFC championships, and a Super Bowl victory. During that timeline, the team went 104-53-1. Interestingly, since the split, neither of them found much success on the gridiron.

Even though they had terminated their previous partnership on a bitter note, it appears they have mended differences. If Russell Wilson joins the Raiders, they will seek to recreate that magic with Tom Brady on board as a minority owner. Brady’s involvement could also play a key role in the future prospects of Russell Wilson. With the Raiders lacking a franchise QB, Russell Wilson might just be one of the names we hear in the air, as a stopgap before they figure out a long-term answer.

If the team is looking for a passer who could start immediately, then the veteran could be their answer.

The team currently holds the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NFL draft and rumors suggest that the Raiders might use it on a QB.

Justin Fields, on the other hand, might feel like he deserves the shot as a starter in Pittsburgh. If the Steelers fail to offer him a new contract or place him on the bench again next season, his Instagram response might gain a lot more attention! What do you think?